Important safety tips for this holiday season
Based on the new NFPA report, Christmas trees cause an average of 160 fires a year. This takes an average of 6 lives while injuring 16 people and causing 16.2 million dollars worth of damage. What caused most of these fires? A heat source was responsible for 26% of the fires. To break this down further, 18% of fires were caused by decorative lights, while 11% of incidents involved wiring.
Christmas trees can burn quickly. How quick? Within a couple of seconds, watch by clicking here.
Christmas Tree Fire Safety Tips
- Choose a reputable nursery to purchase your tree from to ensure it is freshly cut or cut down your own tree using the proper precautions. If you use an artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.
- Watering your Christmas tree is critical! A fresh cut tree can consume a gallon of water every 24 hours.
- When positioning your tree, you will want to position it away from heaters, fireplaces, and other heat sources.
- Always use nationally tested and approved lights that produce low heat. Low heated lights will also help your tree last longer and prevent it from drying out.
- Avoid using candles or high heat sources near your Christmas tree.
- Do not overload electrical outlets and extension cords.
- Inspect your lights and decorations and discard any that are damaged.
- Turn off your lights at night and when you are away from home.
- Smoke detectors save lives. Check your smoke detectors and test to ensure they are working.
Holiday Fire Facts
- One in every three home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical problems.
- Source: https://www.frontlinewildfire.com/
- Candle fires are four times as likely to occur during the holiday season.
- Resource: https://www.redcross.org/
- On average, there are about 160 decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, with almost half of the incidents involving falls.
- Resource: https://www.cpsc.gov/
- A heat source too close to the tree causes 25% of all Christmas tree fires.
- Resource: https://www.frontlinewildfire.com/
